The Mexican Pacific Arch League became the first professional baseball circuit in Mexico to suffer the death of one of its members due to the Coronavirus pandemic, after the death of Leo was announced. Rodriguez Jr., 65 years old.
Sultanas de Monterrey, the club in which Leo Rodriguez served as coach, reported the death on his website and social media.
“After concluding his professional career, Don Leo was always linked to our institution by disentangling himself as a third-base coach and bank coach in multiple stages, being part of the championship obtained in 2007 and living the current season of the Mexican ARC Pacific League, where he began the campaign and at the end of October had to resign due to health problems resulting from the moment of contingency so complicated that society is going through global, “the Mexican Pacific League said in a statement.
For his part, Miguel Ojeda, Sports President of the Red Devils of Mexico, a club in the Mexican Baseball League in which the late Rodriguez served as first base coach during the 2019 season, also mourned his death.
Today this blessed illness has taken us not only to one of the greatest instructors in our Baseball, the son of a mentor of mine, my great friend Don Leo Rodriguez.
To all his family I send my most sincere condolences wishing him prompt resignation.
RIP FRIEND !!!! pic.twitter.com/EQMrDSSwZW– Miguel Ojeda (@MiguelOjedaS) December 23, 2020
Originally from Torrassa, Coahuila, Leo Rodríguez played seven seasons in the Mexican Baseball League, between 1974 and 1980, all with Sultans. After his retirement as a professional player, he took on responsibilities as a coach; in 2007 was champion with Monterrey and directed to Rieleros de Aguascalientes. He was also part of the technical body of Braves de León and Diables Vermelos de México. Internationally, he was a coach in the Caribbean Series.
Rodriguez Jr. was son of the third base Leonardo Rodriguez Briones and brother of the ex- ligamayorista Carlos Rodriguez.